Electrophoretic display panel, method of manufacturing the same and display apparatus having the same

Abstract

An electrophoretic display panel includes a first member, a second member, an electrophoretic layer and an outer member. The first member includes a first substrate and a pixel electrode formed on the first substrate. The first substrate has a display area and a dummy area disposed outside of the display area. The second member includes a second substrate facing the first substrate and a common electrode formed on a first surface of the second substrate. The electrophoretic layer is disposed between the first member and the second member and displays an image by an electric field generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The outer member covers the dummy area and blocks light, so that display quality is improved.

1 . An electrophoretic display panel comprising:
 a first member including a first substrate and a pixel electrode formed on the first substrate, the first substrate having a display area and a dummy area disposed outside of the display area;   a second member including a second substrate facing the first substrate and a common electrode formed on a first surface of the second substrate;   an electrophoretic layer disposed between the first member and the second member and displaying an image by an electric field generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode; and   an outer member covering the dummy area and blocking light.   
     
     
         2 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective film formed on the second substrate and covering the display area,   wherein the outer member and the protective film are formed on substantially the same plane.   
     
     
         3 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member is formed on the first surface of the second substrate, and the common electrode covers the outer member. 
     
     
         4 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member is formed on the common electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the outer member is achromatic. 
     
     
         6 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 5 , wherein the outer member is black. 
     
     
         7 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective film formed on a second surface of the second substrate and covering the display area,   wherein the outer member is formed on the protective film and covers the dummy area.   
     
     
         8 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate further includes at least one thin-film transistor (TFT) formed in a driving area adjacent to the dummy area and applying a gate signal to a gate line of the display area. 
     
     
         9 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 8 , wherein the outer member overlaps with the driving area in which the TFT is formed. 
     
     
         10 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer member corresponding to upper and lower side portions of the dummy area is uniform. 
     
     
         11 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer member corresponding to left and right side portions of the dummy area is uniform. 
     
     
         12 . The electrophoretic display panel of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer member corresponding to upper, lower, left and right side portions of the dummy area is uniform. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display panel, the method comprising:
 forming a first member including a first substrate and a pixel electrode formed on the first substrate, the first substrate having a display area and a dummy area disposed outside of the display area;   forming a second member including a second substrate facing the first substrate and a common electrode formed on a first surface of the second substrate;   forming an electrophoretic layer on one of the first and second members;   combining the first member and the second member to position the electrophoretic layer between the first and the second members; and   forming an outer member on the second member, the outer member covering the dummy area and blocking light.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the outer member is formed via a coating process. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the outer member is formed via a film lamination process. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first member further comprises a driving area adjacent to the dummy area, and the outer member is formed in an area overlapping with the driving area. 
     
     
         17 . An electrophoretic display apparatus comprising:
 a first member including a first substrate and a pixel electrode formed on the first substrate, the first substrate having a display area and a dummy area disposed outside of the display area;   a second member including a second substrate facing the first substrate and a common electrode formed on a first surface of the second substrate;   an electrophoretic layer disposed between the first member and the second member and displaying an image by an electric field generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode;   an outer member covering the dummy area and blocking light;   a gate driving part applying a gate signal to a gate line of the display area; and   a data driving part applying a data signal to a data line of the display area.   
     
     
         18 . The electrophoretic display apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gate driving part is disposed in a driving area adjacent to the dummy area, and includes at least one TFT applying the gate signal to the gate line of the display area. 
     
     
         19 . The electrophoretic display apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the outer member overlaps with the driving area.